It’s time for Wednesday Morning Quarterback, your weekly sports round-up.
This year’s hall of fame class included Joe Gordon, Ricky Henderson, and Jim Rice, a fairly solid class inducted without much controversy. It seems like the controversy will only increase as the years continue to go by.
Already the HoF voters seem to be softbanning Mark McGwire from the Hall by simply not voting for him on the basis of the steroid allegations made against him and the Hall of Famers are certainly starting to speak up and become vocal about this point. Both Hank Aaron and Jim Rice were quoted last weekend as condemning the steroid era and the numbers and players they represent. While some don’t mind them entering the hall, it’s universally accepted that those numbers need to have some sort of caveat to indicate the shady methods from which they were obtained.
Another big moment with the celebration this year was a more vocal call for Pete Rose to be pardoned from his baseball-wide ban. Banned twenty years ago for gambling on baseball while a manager for the Cincinnati Reds, many, including Aaron, are calling for forgiveness, especially when compared to the problems facing the upcoming steroids class.
Gambling on baseball is a pretty serious offense, but, at least to me and Hank Aaron, it seems to pale in comparison to drugging oneself to improve performance. One can only hope that Bud Selig will take this into consideration, but considering the changed he’s already effected on baseball (interleague games, the wild card, making the all-star game “count”, instant replay on home runs), it seems that he’d much rather end his term (the day can’t come soon enough) without making such a controversial decision.
Pete Rose made a mistake, but I think it pales in comparison with these other perjurers and cheaters who remain eligible. Think about it Mr. Selig.
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